Herzog hosts Somaliland president in Jerusalem after Israel's recognition

President Isaac Herzog hosted Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi and his wife, Fardosa Mohamed Roble, at his residence on Sunday. Herzog called the visit “historic” and said it showed “the great potential of the new partnership between our two nations.”

The meeting followed Israel’s decision last December to become the first country at the United Nations to recognize Somaliland, the self-declared entity seeking independence from Somalia. Herzog said both sides had acted courageously, noting that Israel recognized Somaliland as an independent state and that Somaliland opened an embassy in Jerusalem.

Herzog said the sight of Somaliland residents waving Israeli flags during celebrations of the new relationship had “warmed our hearts” in Israel, and he welcomed the Somaliland flag flying at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem. He said the next step was to expand cooperation in agriculture, technology, trade, health, academia and security.

Herzog added that Israel and Somaliland face “a wide range of shared threats and interests,” including “the threat of radical extremism,” and said they seek security and stability in the Horn of Africa and the wider region. Abdillahi said Somaliland had spent 35 years asking world leaders “to see us,” and thanked Israel for being the country that recognized it. He said he represented six million people and that the visit marked “a clear statement” of a new strategic era and a stronger partnership.